A Sense of Direction

Chicago, Illinois

I met Farah at the top of the Sears Tower, which has the highest skyscraper observation deck in the world. She told me that although Chicago is in Illinois, it's near Lake Michigan (one of the Great Lakes).

The Place Where I Am is Los Viajeros' song about Chicago. They sing about all the sights you can see here!

When I met Farah, she was wearing a headscarf. She said it's called a hijab. Many Muslim girls and women wear them to show their modesty.

Farah took me to her favorite place for dessert - she called them "sweets." I had some great mango kulfi - it's like ice cream. If you'd like to try some, you can! Here's a simple recipe for mango kulfi.

When I met Farah at the sweet shop, I almost didn't recognize her. She wasn't wearing her hijab. She said it's her choice whether to wear it or not. She chooses to wear it at school, but not outside of school.

Farah's father is from Pakistan, northwest of India. Her mother is from the Philippines, in the Pacific Ocean between China and Australia. Farah speaks English and Urdu, the official language of Pakistan.

Farah took me to her school. It's a Muslim school. They study all the things we study at Elwood Elementary - plus the Koran, the Muslim holy book.

The Brain says that Muslims pray five times a day: before dawn, noon, late afternoon, after sunset, and before bed. When they pray, they always face Mecca, the holiest city in Islam. Mecca is in Saudi Arabia, in the Middle East.

While Farah was in school, I saw the Jesse White Tumblers. They're a group of kid gymnasts who bounce off a small trampoline, soar through the air, and land in a somersault. They were really amazing.

I went shopping with Farah for a present for Arthur. We found a nice cricket bat. Cricket is kind of like baseball. It's very popular in Pakistan. I think Arthur will love it!